The blood moon hung low and heavy over the forest canopy—a burning red eye watching from above. It was the night the producers had warned them about, though none could say exactly what would happen. Only that the next test would be brutal.
Zara sat apart from the others, the flickering firelight casting shadows across her face. Tobe was quiet now, but his wounds were worse than they let on. She wished she could do more than patch his bleeding arm.
Jayden paced nearby, muttering curses under his breath. "Why does it have to be like this?"
Adaeze didn't answer. She was staring at the blood moon, her jaw tight.
Seyi sharpened his knife with a rhythm that felt like a countdown.
Then the wristbands chimed—a harsh, grinding sound that cut through the night.
*"Phase Four begins. The Blood Moon Test: Survive until dawn. No alliances. No weapons except what you carry. No shelter. The forest will decide your fate."*
Zara's heart hammered. No shelter? No weapons?
They looked at each other, eyes wide.
"No shelter means exposure," Lina said softly. "The cold. The wild animals."
Jayden clenched his fists. "And no weapons..."
Seyi nodded. "We'll have to rely on speed and stealth."
The forest seemed to close in around them, the shadows alive with unseen eyes.
They had less than twelve hours to survive the wild.
No safe place.
No guarantees.
Only the blood moon watching—waiting.
The wind grew colder as the group moved cautiously into the open. The trees cast long, menacing shadows, making every rustle sound like a predator's step. Jayden kept glancing over his shoulder, clutching a broken branch as a makeshift weapon.
"Stick close," Zara whispered. "We need to watch each other's backs."
Tobe, still weak, leaned heavily on Adaeze's shoulder. "I don't think I can keep up much longer."
"Don't talk like that," Adaeze snapped. "We'll make it."
But the forest had other plans.
A sudden screech shattered the night. Something large and fast tore through the underbrush nearby. Everyone froze.
"Move!" Zara hissed, grabbing Tobe.
They sprinted blindly, branches whipping at their faces as the screech repeated, closer this time.
Zara's heart slammed in her chest as she spotted a clearing ahead—a circle of rocks surrounding a small, flickering fire.
"Here!" she shouted. "We can't stay out here!"
They plunged into the clearing, gasping for breath. For a moment, it was quiet. Too quiet.
Then, from the shadows, a pair of glowing eyes appeared—too low to be human.
The creature stepped forward—a massive wolf, its fur bristling and teeth bared.
Jayden raised his branch, trembling.
"Don't provoke it," Zara warned.
The wolf circled slowly, growling low.
Then, just as suddenly as it appeared, it turned and vanished into the darkness.
The group exhaled, relief flooding through them.
But the night was far from over.
Every step forward meant more danger.
And as the blood moon rose higher, Zara knew the true test wasn't just survival of the body—it was survival of the mind.
The wolf's sudden appearance left everyone shaken, but it was a warning—an unspoken message from the wild itself. They had to stay alert.
Zara's legs ached, her breath ragged as they moved deeper into the forest. The trees grew thicker, their branches clawing at the sky.
"We have to find water," Lina said. "We can't last the night dehydrated."
Seyi scanned the darkness. "There's a stream nearby. I heard it when we arrived."
"Lead the way," Zara said, steadying herself.
They moved silently, shadows slipping between shadows, every sound magnified in the cold night.
When they reached the stream, the icy water gurgled softly. Tobe collapsed beside it, gulping the cold liquid.
Adaeze tore a piece of cloth to bandage his wound tighter. "We need to keep moving."
Suddenly, a chilling howl echoed across the valley.
Jayden froze. "That was no ordinary wolf."
Zara's heart pounded. The forest was alive with unseen dangers—things they couldn't see but could feel creeping closer.
They gathered what little supplies they could carry—sticks, stones, anything for defense—and pressed on.
Hours passed in tense silence, interrupted only by the distant calls of wild creatures and the whisper of wind through the leaves.
By the time dawn's first light touched the sky, the survivors were battered, cold, and more uncertain than ever.
The blood moon had tested them—and the forest had claimed its toll.
Dawn's pale light seeped through the dense canopy, casting a fragile glow over the exhausted group. Zara blinked against the soft light, her muscles trembling from fatigue and cold. The Blood Moon Test was nearly over, but the scars it left ran deep.
Tobe, though stable, looked paler, his breaths shallow. Adaeze whispered a quiet prayer, holding his hand tightly.
Jayden slumped against a tree, staring blankly ahead. "We barely made it," he muttered. "How many more nights like this?"
Lina gathered the group together, her voice steady despite the tremble in her hands. "We survived because we stayed together. That's the only way we'll make it."
Seyi nodded. "But trust is thin. We all know someone could turn at any moment."
Zara looked around, meeting each of their eyes.
"We can't let fear break us," she said. "Not yet. The game isn't over."
As they began to move toward their next challenge, a sudden vibration pulsed through their wristbands. The message was clear and chilling:
*"Prepare yourselves. Phase Five begins at dusk. The final trial approaches."*
Zara swallowed hard. The forest was watching. The game was closing in.
And only one would survive.
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